by Dr. Bob Ouellette

 Monday, September 16, 2002                                            Marriott Room

Assumption College                                                               7:30 PM

Worcester Winetasters                                       

 Comments on Bordeaux 97

Well, we started the year off auspiciously with a tasting that we looked forward to. It was suggested last May that we investigate the 97 and 98 Bordeaux vintages and spend a little more than usual. To wet our appetite, we began with the lesser of the two vintages:  we were not too disappointed with the results. As usual, we tasted the wines blind bagged in flights of four and we compared our scores with Mr. Parker’s and the Wine Spectator. The results are listed above. 

The first four were not overwhelming. As a matter of fact, most   the tasters were disappointed and wondered if the prices I paid for the wines were justified. In essence, these four wines were thin and coarse, with a minimum of identifiable fruit and long bitter tannin endings. Improvement?  Very questionanble. 

The tastings that followed in these groups were much better examples of good Bordeaux.. Naturally , one would expect to find this since we were now involved with the classified and  first growths. No disappointment here. Dark intense ruby color gave way to hints of vanilla, dark berry fruit, cedar, tobacco,-- a complexity all wrapped up in a medium to full body. All these eight wines showed promise for the future and justified their costs. 

Now, all we have to do is wait another three weeks and to enjoy a more promising vintage, 1998.